Arsenal fans were left puzzled after watching Manchester United’s draw against Southampton when Bruno Fernandes swung a punch yet received no punishment.

Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes (3R) remonstrates with Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse (2R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on February 12, 2022. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United’s Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes (3R) remonstrates with Southampton’s English midfielder James Ward-Prowse (2R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on February 12, 2022. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Since Thursday night and Gabriel Martinelli’s double yellow red card, Arsenal fans have had to listen to pundits telling them that the call was right and they need to stop whinging and being so paranoid.

But, if any of them stopped to actually listen to what Arsenal fans are trying to say, they would hear a fanbase exasperated after watching foul upon foul go unpunished only to see Arsenal players sent off for ‘letter of the law’ offences on a regular basis.

And no, this isn’t an issue with Arsenal’s discipline, at least not entirely.

Take Saturday’s Premier League game between Manchester United and Southampton, for instance.

https://twitter.com/DailyCannon/status/1492494940328316930

At one point, Paul Pogba pushed a Southampton player before immediately kicking another one. The end result for these two yellow card incidents in one period of play? A single yellow card.

Then, there was Bruno Fernandes taking a swipe at Ward-Prowse after failing to throw him to the ground.

This wasn’t even punished with a yellow card, never mind a red.

Can you honestly say that if Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey or Gabriel did that they would not have been punished?

If you can, then you haven’t been paying attention at all.

Take a look at some of these, for instance.

Only one of these offences was even given as a freekick:

If you want a far longer list, you can find it here.

So, you’ll forgive Arsenal fans for being angry that they watch their players get sent off for things others get away with on a regular basis.

We don’t want Arsenal treated as if they are different or special, we’d just like to see them treated like everybody else.

If they were, there would be an FA charge coming for Manchester United for how they crowded the ref on a number of occasions during the game.

But we all know that won’t happen.

Oh, and for those still inclined to say refs aren’t influenced or biased, here is Phil Neville admitting that referees favoured United over Arsenal.